Results of the Joint Operations and trainings working group

Danube Commission 15. February 2017. Budapest

Ádám KALMÁR pol. Lt. Colonel Head of Division Baranya County Police Headquarters Objectives of the working group

 plan and organize 3 joint operations on the Danube during 2014  elaborate operation plans – (FOP with annexes and national SOP’s)  work out and apply the uniform data exchange form for statistics  synchronize the joint law enforcement operations in 10 countries  run the Temporary Coordination Centre in Mohács, Hungary at the SEB  contribute to the more exact analysis and evaluation of law enforcement risks in inland shipping with producing a joint Danube risk analysis material – the DARIF Risk Analyses Chart  evaluate the operations completed and draw the conclusions, come to an arrangement with the partners about necessary changes  summarize the results of joint operations, supply data to the law enforcement bodies of the participating countries  make recommendations on the possibilities of similar joint operations and trainings in the future

Page 33 Thematic meetings of the working group . Three thematic workshops were held during the project with 10-15 experts in the team of working group . Experts delegated from Each DARIF state, EU Agencies such as Europol, FRONTEX, Aquapol and the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) in Moldova and Ukraine . They had experiences in the areas of organising and synchronizing joint law enforcement operations and actions.

Summary of the technical workshops:

• Joint Operations (JO’s) should be multi-purpose operations • JO’s should focus on documents of seamen, illegal immigration, searching of ships but also to tackle against environmental pollution. • Database of suspicious ships on Danube should be elaborated jointly • Information transfer by the Temporary Coordination Centre has a key importance regarding efficient controls Thematic meetings of the working group

• 1st JO would serve as a probe and analysing the traffic, and collected information could be the base of the future JO’s. • During the summer JO, passenger criuse ships and also ownership of yachts, pleasure boats should be checked thoroughly. • During the autumn JO destination ports should be controlled too (during uploading the suspicious ships). • Implementation should cover Danube-Rhine-Main Channel too • During operations, all available databases should be used (national ones, SIS II, but also Interpol and Europol queries shall be sent, and TDW – Aquapol document database shall be used • TCC in Mohács should be a link with other FPO’s (for example in Moldavia, in Serbia). • Working group should accept a so-called Framework Operational Plan, which should be filled up with details in the MS’s. During the operation common incident report form should be used. Thematic meetings of the working group • More increased controls on illegal labour employment (exploitation) • More and more effective use of the INTERPOL and EUROPOL databases (cross check on the available preliminary crew and passenger lists) • Pre-operational phase should be applied • Carry on with joint operations (1 JO/year) in the future, to maintain the teamwork, „Danube Task Force” – a coordination team before the operation, pre-operational phase, organising countries in rotation, receive guest officers (observers - without executive powers). • Develop a special IT application or platform (for real-time information exchange, for the collection of statistical data and the support of risk assessment, for exchange of information of destination ports of cargo vessels. • Organize joint training activities (visits, study trips on new technology or to similar sea coordination and information centres). Trainings on the spot if available • Maintain Danube shipping related risk profiling. Elaboration of common indicators are necessary Participation and duration of JOs

Participating Member States of Priority Area 11 of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region and other contributory international organisations aiming to improve the safety and security of the Danube River, have agreed to organize and conduct 3 joint law enforcement operations:

• as synchronized actions with setting up NCPs and TCC • carried out in a complex-way • with involvement of their selected national authorities (border- water policing, disaster management bodies and port authorities) • as multi-purpose operations • 3 times for 1 week period including 3 operational days:

 1st DARIF Joint Operation:7-11 April 2014.  2nd DARIF Joint Operation: 21-25 July 2014.  3rd DARIF Joint Operation: 10-14 November 2014.

Page 77 Principles of the controls and territorial scope

MSs have organized their controls  according to their demands and responsibilities  their own risk assessment – but taking into consideration the DARIF RA Chart and Risk Profiles  current situation on the national Danube sections  reinforcement sources - choosing purposes and tasks from the list, and setting priorities. (It was not necessary to concentrate to all tasks.)  MS’s may differ from the tasks depending on the operational situation.

Territorial scope: • River Danube and its riverbanks • important ports and their vicinities (DARIF Member States independently make a decision on the exact locations of the operational activities) • 1st JO was not include the Danube-Rhine-Main Canal

Page 88 Responsibility area

„10 countries, more than 2,800 kms along the waterway, from the Black Forest to the Black Sea”

During 2nd and 3rd JOs: along Rhine–Main– Danube Canal controls were organized in Port of Bamberg, Nürnberg and area of Kelheim by the German Federal Police and Water Police, Customs of Bavaria

Page 99 Main objectives were… to detect:

• Illegal immigration (THB, SHB, illegal stay etc…) • Smuggling of tobacco, drugs, other dangerous products on board (weapon, armament and ammunition, radioactive materials, external engines) • Document forgery • Wanted persons • Illegal waste transport, environmental crime • Transport of dangerous goods • General waterway law enforcement controls • Controls of destination ports (during unloading suspicious ships) • Controls on labour employment on members of crew

Page 1010 Implementation of the operation • Flexible, clear and simple Framework Operational Plan (FOP) has been elaborated and was reconciled with the experts • It regulated the key execution issues only • National operational plans specified tasks of the authorities, in different time periods and places • National sub-plans became the main annex of FOP

Page 1111 Implementation of the operation • An annex contained short description of the vessel traffic and the criminal features of the river sections (provided a background for the preparation…) • Activities were supported by Risk Indicators and RA Chart updated since July for profiling (could serve as a „Database of Suspicious Ships” and supports situation- awareness and profile creation)

Page 1212 Temporary Coordination Centre (TCC) Temporary Coordination Centre was set up in Mohács, during the operational days between 08:00 and 16:00 hours

Staff: Hungarian coordinator (s) + liaison officers of MS’s + Frontex, Interpol, Europol and EUBAM guest officers

Tasks performed:  keeping daily contact with the national contact points (NCP)  liaison officers provide mutual assistance to each other in connection with data requests  collecting and forwarding information on the actual state of the sub- operations in Member States  operational support given by Interpol and Europol officer (ability to launch mass requests from their data files)  exchange of operational experience  keeping the contacts with other focal point offices by Frontex guest officer  collecting statistical data for the final report of the operation

Page 1313 Collecting data and reporting  Statistical data was sent on daily bases electronically to the Centre with Data exchange form usage. It also has been evolved by MSs proposals to make it more accurate  Member States sent details of their significant offences detected  Daily results were summarized and sent out till 1 PM at the latest by the Centre

Page 1414 Statistics, trends in total

Page 1515 Statistics, trends

Page 1616 Significant offences detected – 1st JO

SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT RESULTS (altogether in 10 countries) Member Location of Type of detection Name and Type of Perpetrator Quantity State detection nationality of the ship seized the ship

Bulgaria Somovit cigarette Rasnov (ROU) fright 1 ROU 940 pieces smuggling Hungary Mohács cigarette Mercur 305 fright 1 ROU 180 pieces smuggling (ROU) Hungary Baja wanted person 1 HUN Austria Vienna illegal stay and Flamenco passenge 4 IDN employment (MLT) r 3 PHL Austria Vienna illegal stay and Der Kleine passenge 7 SRB employment Prinz (DEU) r

Austria Vienna illegal stay and Viking Legend passenge 4 SRB employment (CHE) r 11 PHL

Austria Vienna illegal stay and Niala (NLD) passenge 1 PHL employment r Austria Vienna illegal stay and Viking Idun passenge 1 SRB employment (CHE) r 12 PHL 3 BIH 1 MKD Most apprehensions (47 persons) in crew aboard passenger cruise ships in Vienna without valid visa, no work-permission at all. Each of the apprehended persons bailed with € 200 and conditioned to immediate leave the Austrian territory.

Page 1717 Significant offences detected – 2nd JO

SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT RESULTS (altogether in 10 countries) Member State Description of illegal activity detected

Bavaria In 2 cases criminal offenses were detected (fish poaching), 12 cases were launched because of administrative offenses (wrong/missing records in logbook, missing patent, violation of safety rules of the water traffic etc…). Customs investigated 3 cases of suspicion of illegal employment of RO crew members in freight ship "SEJF". 7 cases of suspicion of illegal employment of HR crew members were launched. Austria Detection of 2.160,62 g Cannabis in Port Vienna / Freudeneu next loading / unloading area in a Serbian lorry and in its trailer. 3 SRB and 1 BIH crew members were apprehended on "RIVER DUCHESS" cruiser at Vienna Port because of illegal migration and illegal stay. Police in Vienna at the Danube arrested 5 Moldovan people because of burglary into a fisher boat. 2 complaints for lack of technical equipment and safety on board on "FGS VIKING DELLING"

Romania At BCP Sulina 3 SYR illegal migrants were apprehended on a livestock carrier ship "RABUNION XX" (Cambodia) - without legal travel documents. 1 Case of cigarette smuggling was detected at the riverbank km flv 883, where 14.400 pieces of cigarettes were dropped on the Danube riverbank. Additionally 7 offences of illegal fishing were detected. Illegal migration case was detected in BCP Sulina on a cargo ship "GUNDEM 1" (TUR). 1 Turkish citizen was apprehended without legal travel document. Fine was imposed to the transport company. Serbia Detection of 3.057 kg oil (diesel) hidden in reservoir of the freight ship "TRIAS" (NL).

Moldova Moldovan Customs detained 1 BG citizen in the border zone of the Giurgiulesti Port and found 2.200 pieces of cigarette hidden in his vehicle with excise stamps of Moldova. Ukraine During patrol activity at riverbank an unregistered vessel "Brig" was found without proper registration documents (fine imposed). In the vicinity of Reni Port at MD-UA green border 3 persons were detained with GAZ-53 vehicle (no number plate) attempted to smuggle 3.400 litres of alcohol (=96%) from MD. Page 1818 Significant offences detected – 3rd JO SUMMARY OF DETECTED ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES (altogether in 10 countries) 1st day 2nd day 3rd day In total Number of Illegal Activities 24 6 16 46 Detection / Apprehension 1 0 1 2 Imposed Fine (EUR) 500 300 83 883 Confiscated Goods or 1 driving 1 driving Documents - - licence licence

SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT RESULTS (altogether in 10 countries) Member State Description of illegal activity detected Bavaria Bavarian authorities launched administrative proceedings in 10 cases because of the infringement of the rules of the waterway transport and in 2 more cases because of the breach of the security provisions and in 1 case there was suspicion of illegal employment of a Ukrainian crewmember. Austria Austrian authorities took action on a ship named MGS Energy because 2 Ukrainian crewmembers were presumably employed illegally and after that they detected that on the FGS Amabella the number of crewmembers was below the minimum and the captain did not have the navigation licence for the Danube. On the MGS Zlatoust 1 wanted person was found who was apprehended. Authorities confiscated 1 false Slovenian driving licence while controlling a vehicle and proceeding was launched against the driver Romania Romanian authorities took action in 3 cases because of the infringement of the rules of the waterway transport. Slovakia Slovakian authorities imposed 100 EUR fine on Viking Clean because of the non- compliance with law enforcement rules. They banned the work of the BD GEMER floating equipment, because the crew handed in wrong documents during the control. On the Gisela freight ship and on the Viking passenger cruise ships 50-50 EUR fine was imposed because of the infringement of the rules of the waterway transport. Hungary Hungarian authorities took action because of the infringement of the rules of the waterway transport in 22 cases on different ships, and then they detected and apprehended 1 wanted person (disappearance) near the port of Mohács. Page 1919 Final results of the working group

 3 successfully completed Joint Operations  Evolved ability to organize joint actions  Active participation from the side of all MSs and international law enforcement organisations  Operational documentations elaborated (F OP, data Exchange Form, RA Chart…)  Enhanced operational cooperation among the law enforcement authorities of the Danube member states  Joint operational experiences  Professional contacts, new information channels  Increased standards of analysis and evaluation work and situation- awareness  Improved precision of profile creation  More clear situational picture on Danube related crime and other offences

Page 2020 THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION!

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